According to reports on the 22nd by British Reuters and The Guardian and other media, after Harvard University condemned the U.S. federal government for threatening its independence, presidents from more than 100 American universities, colleges, and academic organizations issued a joint statement on the 22nd, opposing the Trump administration's approach towards U.S. higher education institutions.

Harvard University, file photo, source: foreign media

Reuters said that this statement was signed by the presidents of Princeton University, Brown University, University of Hawaii, and other institutions, criticizing that "unprecedented government overreach and political intervention are endangering American higher education."

"We are open to constructive reform and are not opposed to legitimate government regulation," the statement added. "However, we must resist excessive government interference in our campus learning, living, and working environments."

The report said that the Trump administration is attempting to comprehensively reform the U.S. academic community using its financial strength, and this statement represents the latest resistance move taken by the U.S. higher education sector.

Reuters reported that the White House has yet to respond to the request for comment on this statement.

On April 11th, officials from the Trump administration sent a letter to Harvard University, demanding "meaningful governance reform and restructuring," or else federal funds would be cut. On the 14th, Harvard University rejected the Trump administration's demands. Later that evening, the Trump administration announced it would freeze multiple-year grants totaling $2.2 billion to the school, as well as $60 million in multi-year contract payments. On the 16th, Homeland Security Secretary Krisstie Noem demanded that Harvard University provide information about "illegal and violent activities" of its foreign student visa holders as required by the Trump administration, or risk losing the qualification to enroll international students and exchange scholars.

Harvard University filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on the 21st, accusing the administration of attempting to control Harvard University's academic decisions through freezing federal funds. In a letter to the Harvard community members on the same day, Harvard University President Alan M. Garber said that the university had initiated litigation against the Trump administration at the Federal District Court of Massachusetts, requesting the government to stop the fund freeze. This action is illegal and "exceeds the government's authority." American media believe that this lawsuit marks a "major escalation" in the ongoing conflict between U.S. higher education and President Trump.

(Source: WeChat Official Account of Global Times)

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